Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-10-06
AUNT DORA

Miss Dora Thorbeck was knitting |
busily in her own cosy room, in her
brothers superb house in Kensington,
where there was rush OF rustling
skirts across the ball, aquick, sobbing,
gasping cry, and Hattie, Aunt Dora's
pet and darling of all her brothers
children, ran into her own room.
Down went Aunt Dora's knitting, |
and two minutes later she was in Hat.
ties room. n ftt Co.
Her pretty niece was seated at q
table, hastily writing note, her face
flushed, her eyes full of angry tears,
her fingers trembling. -
Darlingl' her aunt cried, what trou,
bles your
wait q minute, auntie, until |
finish my note, and / will tell YOU
There'--dashing down her signature
4 hope Charley Ansley will enjoy
that. I will never see him again
Neverl'
fWhy2'
He has deceived mel He pretends
10 love me, and is carrying on flirta-
tion with Miss Chester all the time
Are you sure of that2'
Hattie hesitated. Was she sure2
Appearances we're against Charlie,
but-
Don't send your note quite yet,
Aunt Dora said, gently. Let me tell
you little story of my own life--the
story, Hattie Of a too hasty decision.
Hattie's tears were hastily dried.
She was but eighteen, and still child
enough to delight in story, especial
ly true one, as this promised to be.
Aunt Dora told her story to her
niece, Hattie Thorbeck, who was in
danger Of having fatal quarrel with
her lover, by reason of Judging him
hastily and unfairly.
1t happened more than twenty
years ago, Aunt Dora said, when
your father and mother were on their
wedding tour, and / was girl Of nine
teen, just out of school. My father
was very fond Of me, and very indul-
gent; and when I proposed that we
should shut up our house for the sum-
mer, and take long holiday trip, he
at once agreed. He had retired from
business on account of ill-health, and,
think, enjoyed the prospect of sew
eral weeks Of summer idleness and
travel as much as did myself.
Our first stopping place was Paris,
and we found so many friends there
that we fingered on week after week,
well contented. / was more than con.
tented, for / had been introduced the. 70
to Henry Somers the only man eve
loved. He was in no way a remarka-
bic man, Hattie, no hero Of romance or
modern knight; but he had gentle
caressing manner, soft, winning
voice, and eyes of deep brown that
seemed to me to mirror true, loving
heart.
Every day my love grew stronger,
and yet / was not giving it unsought.
we, Henry and I, had been sitting
in the porch one morning, when 3 ine
drizzling rain prevented walking out
side, and more plainly than ever be-
fore he had shown me his heart, win
ming from me words that few hours
later / would have given all / possess
ed to recall. / am sure, had we not
been interrupted, he would have made
me formal proposal, but party
from the parlor came out to the porch,
and I ran away, my heart full Of hap.
piness, my face burning with bushes.
Itwas my last hour Of such full, per
feet joy, Hattie--the end Of my love-
dreams.
The porch upon the second floor ol
the hotel extended across the entrance
and my room was exactly over the
door. Henry Somers was standing
on the lower step Of the broad flight
leading to the door, and as the stage
drove up, two boys,Ilittle fellows o.
three or four years old, gave q great
joyful cry Of 'Papal papap and rushed
at him as soon as the door was opened
A little figure in waterproof cloaA
and hood followed, and I heard hi
astonished voice, saying, Helen, why
did you not let me know you were
comlng?' n
i heard no more. Faint, dizzy,
and bewildered, / threw myself back
in my chair, stunned by the revelation
a. married mana father and hi
had dared to make love to me--to VIII
my lover Pride came to aid me, ant
I rang the bell and sent q waiter t,
find my father. There was no trac,
Of agitation left by the time my dea
father was found and came to m,
room. | was ready with my story
then, and asked him il he was no
tired Of Paris. After some consulta
tion, we decided to take tripto th,
cost, and then arrange our furthe
movements.
4 made packing my excuse 70
keeping my room until the evenin'
train time, when we left Paris. Blu
I did glance at the hotel register a
we passed through the Office on ou
way to the carriage. Amongst th
arrivals for the day was Mrs. Fl
Somers, two children, and nurse.
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